Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) will continue their long-standing holiday tradition at Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital (LAOH) when they transport Santa Claus via helicopter to LAOH’s OH Toys! OH Joy! event. Approximately 1,300 underserved young patients being treated for musculoskeletal disorders through LAOH Urgent Care and Outpatient Clinic services, as well as neighboring children from the Figueroa Corridor area, will be anxiously awaiting his arrival. Santa will hover over LAOH, sitting on the outside jump seat of the helicopter, delivering holiday greetings (in English and Spanish) to children and their families. Santa will transfer into a SWAT armored vehicle and parade through the LAOH parking lot to the lines of waiting children and into LAOH to distribute toys.

LAPD-SWAT has been a LAOH community partner for more than 15 years. Every holiday season, OH Toys! OH Joy! collection boxes are placed in LAPD stations where LAPD personnel and the wider community are able to make toy donations.  In addition, toys and funds (to purchase toys) are contributed by other benefactors including LAOH support groups and employees, as well as businesses and individuals throughout Los Angeles.

WHAT:       OH Toys! OH Joy!

LAPD’s SWAT brings Santa Claus via helicopter to Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital to deliver toys to approximately 1,300 underserved young patients and children from surrounding area. LAOH and LAPD-SWAT representatives will be available for interviews in English and Spanish.

 

WHEN:       Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

10 a.m. - Santa hovers over LAOH in helicopter; 10:15 a.m. - Santa Arrives at LAOH (Andrew Norman Hall) to distribute toys.

 

WHERE:     Los Angeles Orthpaedic Hospital, 2400 South

                    Flower Street, Los Angeles, 90007

(NOTE:  Parking lot entrance is off 23rd Street, just east of Flower Street)

 

CONTACT:  Carolyn Aguayo, Manager, Community Outreach, Los   Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital; (213) 742-1536 office; (626) 354-7930 cell